15 tricks to finding an off-season travel deal
By Dana Dratch • Bankrate.com

If you're afraid you missed the boat on a great vacation because the kids are back in school and your co-workers' summer getaway glows are beginning to fade, think again. You might be just in time to score a few off-season travel deals.

"There still are deals, and there still is an off-season," says Janet Libert, editor of Executive Travel magazine.

The key is to consider some venues "that seem counter-intuitive," she says. Since school has already started, where are the places that families with kids normally go? In a similar vein, Europeans, who traditionally vacation in August, are also back at work by mid-September. So their popular haunts are going to be much less crowded.

There are plenty of deals out there if you're savvy and persistent, says Ilyce Glink, author of "50 Simple Things You Can Do to Improve Your Personal Finances." With off-season travel, she says, "you get a better bang for your buck."

Find the 'off' season
"One of the things you want to do is figure out why a place is popular and go there at the opposite time of year," says Glink, who visited Phoenix and Colorado Springs, Colo., -- both winter hot spots -- and had a great time with her family during the summer.

"We stayed in a two-bath casita at a four-star hotel in Phoenix for pennies on the dollar," Glink says. While triple-digit summer heat makes winter the popular season, the family spent the days lounging by the pool and ventured out during the cooler evenings to explore local points of interest.

While the Caribbean is traditionally cheaper in the fall, it's also the start of hurricane season, so you're taking a chance.

In popular ski destinations like Colorado Springs, lack of snow makes summer the off-season. But the area also offers a wealth of outdoor activities, such as horseback riding, mountain biking and hiking, with better prices and fewer tourists, says Glink. Resort rooms that go for $500 during the season can be had for $100 to $150 per night, she says.

Likewise, it pays to be sensitive to local cultural events and customs. During the spring festival in China, residents traditionally visit their hometowns, says Libert. So while you may be able to get a good deal on a ticket to China, you might find it tough to get around once you arrive, she says.

Savvy traveling tips Savvy travelers have some favorite tricks they use to get the best off-season deals. Among them:

Tricks of the well-traveled 1. What will you do at the dream destination? 2. Bundle up. 3. Don't just ask for a price on a flight. 4. Check airfares for smaller airports. 5. Call before you book online. 6. Talk to the right people. 7. Consider several options. 8. Use the Web to get started. 9. Go for something out of the ordinary. 10. Beware of add-on fees. 11. Sign up. 12. Double-check prices before you leave. 13. Ask for a better deal. 14. Don't fear the last-minute approach. 15. Just show up.

1. Ask yourself what you want to do at your dream destination. The weather makes summer Europe's most popular season. But the winter months are also a great time to enjoy the indoor attractions, such as museums, shopping and fine dining, without having to worry about crowds or lines. "Europe's empty," says Glink, who with her husband enjoyed a February week in Rome at a four-star hotel for a total travel cost of about $1,800. 

2. Bundle up. Price airfare, hotels and cars individually. But look at the package deals, too, says Libert. Many times that's the better deal.